Iran-Linked Hacking Group Claims Breach of FBI Drone Systems During World Cup

An Iranian hacking group, Handala, has claimed responsibility for breaching FBI drone systems used for monitoring the FIFA World Cup. They issued threats to participating teams, asserting they had maintained access for months. The group also alleged that they had compromised water systems in California as retaliation for US military actions. While these claims have not been independently verified, they raise significant concerns about cybersecurity during one of the world's most watched sporting events. The FBI has yet to respond to these allegations, and experts are questioning the authenticity of the group's evidence.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 15, 2026, 01:06 IST

Iranian Hackers Target FBI Drone Operations

A hacking collective associated with Iran has asserted that it successfully infiltrated an FBI drone program designed to enhance security for the FIFA World Cup, which is currently taking place in the United States. The group, identified as Handala, claims to have accessed systems utilized by the FBI to surveil matches from aerial perspectives, allowing them to view footage captured by these drones.

In a statement disseminated by SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks online activities of extremist and state-sponsored entities, the hackers issued threats directed at the teams participating in the tournament. They warned, "Better tighten your World Cup security, we don't like some of those teams at all," and added, "Don't forget: FPVs [first-person view] are everywhere; you never know when one might end up right in your team's bus."

Handala further claimed to have maintained access to the FBI's drone systems for several months, enabling them to monitor "every image and every suspect" captured by the aircraft. They also alleged that FBI Director Kash Patel had been added to their list of "successfully hacked victims," asserting that they had rendered FBI systems "to their knees," despite claims of their supposed impenetrability.

The group emphasized that Washington could not "silence the voice of resistance" through "bribes and threats." However, these claims have not been independently verified, and cybersecurity experts have previously raised doubts about the authenticity of the evidence presented by Handala.

These latest allegations follow a prior claim by Handala regarding their infiltration of water systems in several Californian cities, including Bakersfield, Visalia, and Chico. They published screenshots that seemingly displayed residents' water bills online, describing this cyberattack as retaliation for US military actions against reservoirs in Iran. Nevertheless, California Water Service reported no evidence of a breach in their systems, casting doubt on the impact on critical infrastructure.

As of now, the FBI has not publicly addressed these recent claims. Analysts suggest that the threats surrounding the World Cup are likely aimed at leveraging the global visibility of this major sporting event to garner international attention. In March 2026, the US government seized internet domains purportedly linked to Handala and announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of the group's members.